Sports cabinet secretary Dr. Hassan Wario has assured the country that Kenya will host the January Africa Nations Championships (CHAN).
Speaking in Eldoret’s Kipchoge Stadium after making an impromptu visit at the facility on Tuesday morning, said they have enough backups to host the African football championships to host the games.
“For CHAN, we have many back up plans to host the championships. We have Kasarani, Nyayo, Kinoru Machakos and others. If you look at kasarni we are doing good job. With such backups, we are not worried,” added Wario.
Though he insisted that despite having such facilities across the country, they want to spread the international event to the grassroots to ensure that people enjoy the game across the country.
“We want football to be spread to mashinani and other places like Eldoret where fans are really loyal and follow their respective teams that is why we want CHAN to come here so that people can experience international football right here. We are going to burn midnight oil to ensure that we succeed,” said the CS.
With CAF and FKF officials visiting the facility on Monday morning to inspect the progress, Wario said he was not part of the team and they have not briefed him.
But he insisted that the playing grounds are ion horrible state. “Our grounds are horrible in the whole country. We are going to replant grass in our fields,” said Wario.
With Eldoret facility under construction ahead of the championships, Wario said they need to work out on the pitch to ensure quality field.
“There is a specific business for replanting grass and that grass should be of the highest standard that will be approved by Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Confederation of Africa Football (CAF). Above all, there is a special team that will fly into the country to ensure that we have special grass and playing pitch,” added Wario.